Organic Compounds & Their Effects on Society

Wednesday, August 1, 2001 6:49 PM ET

Flight Attendant Sues United

CHICAGO (AP) - Flight attendants are being sickened by exposure to pesticides that are sprayed on airplanes serving Australia and New Zealand, a lawsuit filed against United Airlines claims.

United flight attendants are exposed to pesticides sprayed in the cabins of 747-400 airplanes, according to the lawsuit filed by flight attendant Susan Matthews, who says she developed a rash from head to toe after a trip to Australia.

This is just one of many current news stories featuring organic compounds and their effect on the environment. In the past year, there have been articles in the news regarding the effect of pesticides on frog populations; the potential of Teflon to be an environmental hazard when it breaks down; the ability of hormone-like chemicals to affect bodily functions; and the development of new designer solvents called ionic liquids to replace hazardous organic solvents

Organic chemicals are found in most of our household products from detergents and cleaners to cosmetics and medicines. They are used in the pesticides that we spray on our lawn and gardens and in the paints that we spray on our houses. We need them in the medicines we use to fight disease and in the sprays used to reduce the threat of West Nile virus. Organic compounds play a major role in our lives, but we are now finding that these benefits to not come without cost to the environment and our health.

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